Ditching-machine.



G. J. VAN BURENML L. A.' KRUPP.

DITCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.4,1908.

Patented Aug.` 3, 1909. e SHEETS-SHEET 1.

o. I. VAN BUIIBN I L. A. KRUPP.

DITCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4, 190e.

G. J. VAN BURENz L. A. KRUPP. DITGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED sEPT.4,19os.

4L/@w l Patented Aug. 3, 1909.

e SHEETS-SHEET s.

G. "J. VAN BUREN & L. A. KRUPP.

DITCHING MAHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT, 4,A1908.

L `rlalsenteo'l Aug. 3, 1909.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Il ml @im L anni um MmLmnnmvuEn. Mmmm u C.

(LJ. VAN BURBN & L. A. KRUPP.

DITCHING MACHINE. AIPLIGMIONl FILED SH12/1,1908.

Patented Aug. 3. 1909. 6 SHEETS-SHEET `5.

G. J. VAN BUREN & L. A. KRUPP.

DITGHING MACHINE. AlgPLIcgJIoN` FILED sBPT.4,19oa.

Patented Aug. 3

e SHEETS-amm e.

(Pdg .UMTEDSrArEs PATENT OEEIOE.

j` oriAnLEsJ-ivAn'eBunEn, or CAMBRIDGE, NEW YORK, AND LEO A. KEUPP, OE CAREY, OHIO.

` DITCHING-MACHINE f No. 929,732.`

To all whom itmay concern:

New York, Ohio, have invented certain t new and useful Improvements in Ditchingi fliiachines; and we do hereby declare the fol- "lowing to be a full, clear, and exact descripf "tion of t the` invention, `such as will enable oth-ers skilledin thekar-t'to which it appertains to inalreand useTtheA-same.

` lThis inventionrelatesto improvements in ditching machines, and is an improvement upon the machine shown in` Patent No. 872,159", CLJ. Van Buren, dated Nov. 26,

"1907. e p 1 Thepresent inachine is adapted for cutting either large `or small canals, or ditches e off any desired depth or width, and with `eithersloping or straight sides, and either a 1 straight or curved ditch or canal.

w The object of this invention is t0 produce .a machine which will `cut a ditch or trench `either to the fuller partial depth (dependg ing on the nature `of the soil) at one cut and which will dump the earth on either sideof the trench. liVhen the machinehas completed this cut, for either the entire length of the* canal or trench or for its station, it

l can be reversed `and be brought alongside of 'theiirst cut, thus making a canal or trench R double the width of the cutting wheel. This e operation canbe repeated as often as is necessary to obtain thedesired `width and as i, elften fas necessary to cut the desired depth. The machine is thus of almost universali application for any kind of ditch, canal' or eX? cavation, and, vwith the side sloping attachnient, itis an ideal `machine for theexcavai tion of trenches aiong highways Or for the `-lniilding of embankments for irrigation works and canals, and generally for any -1 ditching purposes this invention consists in the construction 'd combinationsjof `parts Vas hereinafter de` gdfclaillned ccom anying drawings Figures be considered together,

" t show Specification of Letters `l3'atenlt.

. VVashington, (2) WVyandot, and State of (l) p HavingLi-n view the objects stated above, Y

Patented Angus, 1909.

Application filed September 4, 1908.` Serial No. l51,685.

inodiiied torni of the guiding or steering devices. t Fig. 3 is a cross section oi the` di iferential gearing'. Fig. 4t is an end view oi the machine, parts being shown diagram# the supporting frame', `the sloping attach ments yand the connectionsfor driving them, and Figo is a bottom plan view of one out the attachments for slopingthesides of the excavation. 51 i The main frame is substantially rectan-` "gular in plan view andconsists of upper longitudinal beams c and llower longitudinal beams b connected together by vertical beams c and cross beams CZ, the whole forming an open frame firmly connected together. On the rear of the frame is mounted a boiler `c which supplies steam to an engine y, and suitable platforms (notshown) are provided for the reception of the water tank and coal receptacie. In the drawinga steam engine and boiler are shown, but itis `obvious that any desired source of power, such forexample as an explosion engine,` maybe used. At the front or' the ymachine is located the steering means which consists of a. steering wheel g mounted in bearings which swing upon the steering' frame 7i. No means for turning the wheel g are shown, but any ordinary-means may be employed.

In the form shown in Fig. l the frame is also provided with a traction wheel z' pivotally mounted thereon, which traction wheel aids the main traction wheels located near the rear ci the machine. This traction wheel which receives steam from the boiler by a steam pipe (not shown).` The pistons of carrying disks,etc. said shaft carrying a 0 meshing with the internal gear teeth p on the wheel z", the whole being carried b i rameh. i

Pivotally connected t pair of upwardlyeexlte" otedtothe f* i rods 9, the

@Ath

t' is driven by an ordinary duplex engine y'` gear'wheel m thereon which meshes with gcarwheel mwlnch 1n turn drives a pinion matically. Fig; 5 isacross section showing f this engine are connected to a crank shaft 1 This structure is for the purpose of raising4 and lowering the frame It, fromvthe position shown in4 full lines in Fig. 1 to that shown in dotted lines, for example, which has the effect of lifting the front part of the 'frame and thereby lifting the ditching wheel out of contact with the ground so that the machine may be easily transported from place to place. The depth of the cut made by the ditching wheel is also regulated by the adjustment of the frame 7L. The shaft y has fastened to it a V-shaped friction wheel 1 which engages with correspondingly shaped friction wheels 2 on the shafts 3 and 4, carrying gear wheels 5 and 6 meshing with each other, the shaft- 3 being provided with a sprocket wheel 7 driven by a sprocket wheel 8 mounted on a shaft 9 at the top of the machine. The rotation of the shaft 9 will raise or lower the front part of the machine with relation to the frame it. rlhis shaft 9 4is caused to rotate from the main operating means by suitable gears 50 and 49, see Fig. 2a.

10 represents the main ditching wheel, of'

the type shown in Patent No. 872,159,'and driven in the manner described therein. Within this wheel is mounted the central conveyer 11 adapted to be driven in either direction, and delivering either upon the side apron 12 or the side apron 13, as the case may be.

Within the ditching wheel is located the curved dirt guard, terminating in a hopper 14 for increasing the dumping space for the buckets of the ditching wheel, allowing the latter to be run at a greater speed. The conveyers are made as described in the patent above mentioned, except that they are provided with chains 15 and fiat steel bars 16, either one, or both of which, may be used, depending on the nature of the material excavated.

Pivotally attached to the main frame is a triangular frame 17, the outer end of which may be adjusted up and down by means of rack bars 18, Fig. 4, which engage with pinions 19 on a shaft 20, whichV is mounted in extensions 21, projecting fromthe main frame. These extensions are braced by the inclinedbars 22. The shaft 20 is provided with a worm wheel 23, which is driven byy a worm 24 on a shaft 25. The triangular frame 17 is provided with a cross bar 26, and the lower ends of the bars 18 areattached to ears 27 on the frame 17. By means of the connections described it is obvious that the ation of the shaft* 2 5 will move the outer theziframe 17up or down. f

presents a spindle pivotally mounted rend of the frame 17. On

oun'tedzthe side levi gagmg the gears 60 and" noted that, the ditching wheel 10 is wider than the space occupied bythe main traction wheels, as mounted inthe mainframe, `so that these main traction wheelstravel in the cut made by the ditching wheel.

The leveling wheel 30 is adjustable up and down by means of a hand wheel 32 carrying a lscrew threaded rod 33, which works in a nut carried by the bar 26, andhas its lower end pivotally. attached tothe shaft 28. This leveling wheel, in connection with the adj ustable steering devices, maintains the main frame in a vertical position, and the adjusting devices for the leveling wheel are provided for the purpose of keeping the cutting wheel 10 always level.

The leveling wheel 30 is driven by the following means: lhe wheel 30 is providedA with an internal gear, of any suitable type, which gear engages with a gear wheel 34. The gear wheel 34 is mounted'in a bearing 36 carried by the outer end of the frame 17, and is connected by a universal joint with the shaft 37, which at its upper end carries-a bevel gear wheel 38, which engages with a sol similar gear wheel 39 on the shaft 40, which is mounted in the extension'21. The shaft 40 carries another bevel gear wheel 41 which .engages a similar gear wheel 42 on the shaft 43, which is driven from the main `driving mechanism inthe following manner: The engine f is a two cylinder engine, and the cranks of these engines are eccentrically pivoted to the disks 44 on the shaft 45, which carries a sprocket wheel 46 connected by a chain to the sprocket wheel 47 on the shaft 48. This shaft 48 is provided with a bevel gear wheel 49 engaging a similar wheel 50 on the shaft 9. The shaft 48 is also provided with a spur wheel 5l which engages with a similar wheel 52 on the shaft 53. On its other end the shaft 53 is provided with a sprocket wheel 54, which is connected by a chain 55 with asimilar wheel 56 on the shaft 43, which drives the side leveling wheel. The shaft 43 is also provided with a pinion 57 which engages the differential gear which drives the main traction wheels 30a and 31. rihis differential gear is shown in cross sec tion in and consists of a shaft 58, which has fast thereon the large gear wheel 59, which is cut away for the reception of the bevel gear wheels 66 and 61 carried on short shafts 62 mounted in enlargements of the large gear wheel 59 forming bearings.

Loose on the shaft 58 is a gear wheel 63, having teeth engaging the bevel gears 60 and 61 and provided with aflat Vrim for the reception of a band brake. Thisgear 63 has an elongated hub carrying a pinion 66. Loosely mounted on the shaft 58israsleeve 64 which forms the centra 'trtof aV gear wheel 65, which is provi f'th teeth endwith a brake ar' is a pinion hub f hi @seriele 66 which `engages. "with the internal gear traction .wheel ,3l is `similarly driven by a operating handle. ,Bythis `,Construction, it

1s `,obvious that, ifouly one of the brakes isf .i applied, the power will be delivered tothe pleygear wheel` on the oppositeside and thence to the corresponding traction wheel, making l .it "an easy matter to turn the machine tocut x curved ditch. l Thepower may be supplied .to either or both of the traction wheels, as desired. y The turning action is of `course .aided `by the operation othesteering wheel h `and canbe Still aided .by reversingthe direction of rotationof the` leveling wheel `30. Reversingmeans are shown in Fig. `2a. On theshaft 40 is'located a friction clutch -70 `which .engagesthe bevel "gearel, as already described, anda similarbbut oppositely `located bevel gear` G9, By shiftingthe clutch 70by; ordinary means, either the gear 41 or 25 thegear 70 maybe caused to rotateand drive the Shaft 40. i .i The ditching wheel and the conveyers i .whichdeliver the excavated material to one .side ofthe ditohare driven from the main `o'per ating dgearing by sprocket wheels, chains andconneeticnsgas described in the patent already referred to. i

'Ille means for slopingithe sides lof the elavation will next bedescribed. v These are `located alongside the main ditchingiwheel, below @the center thereof. 7l `lepresents a box, provided with ears 72, innwhichare pivoted the ends .of `the telescopic` stay braces 73, v,the uppr fends 40 oil `which lare pivoted `to ears 74 on l main l Atrame; By meansof pins 7 5, the braces may be secured in various ,positions, Athe position fof thefouter side of the boX varying accord- `ingly. Two of the sides of thebox are pro :45 vided. with Aa series of holes, with any one i of which a'pin, as 76, may engage, said pin also engaging anyone of a series .of holes in `a bell'crank support I7'7, whichiii turn is pivotally mounted on the mainframe. yBy @the construction described, any desired ad- .justment, in or outand up or down, may be 4obtained` Pivotally `mounted on the bottom -`of `the box `is a steel disk 78, carrying a series of detachable cutters 79.` The disk T8 is provided with a circular row of beveled gear teeth 80, with which abeveled pinion 8l `engages. This `pinion is mounted on a shaft journaled in the boX 71, and having a' thawsprocket wheel 84C on the shaft 85. haftv Sais provided with a bevel gear 'ch ngages 'with asimilar gear haftSS," which is provided hing: wheelpso tha teeth L67er tlietraction wheel L30a and the `pinion 66a on lthe sleevelt. One of the band" "brakesisshown .on Fig. la, V68 being the procket- WheelSQ connected by a chain 88 hichi mesh with the` :gear 1 Said wheel, as it revolves, drives .the `slope- `makingcutter disks; i

The whole structure is firmly bracedto- .getheiato insure strengthand rigidity. In various parts of `thedrawing7 some .of the "70 construction `has been shown :diagrammatically. Various important parte, such `as .bearings for some of the shafts, `iliave been omitted;

It will be understood that various i parts of the gearing are usually out of operation,"y such as the means tor` raising and `lowering the` steering truck and leveling frame, and that clutches (not shown) are `to be 1used wherever they are needed.

W'e make no claim `to any special form of traction wheel, or wheels, as any suitable ytype ofwheel or wheels may be adopted. It is also obvious that for larger or smaller machines thefarrangementof traction wheels may be .,vai'ied; forinstance, in a machine ior` digging narrow trenches `only `one `traction wheel in the trench will be used, in which casethe side levelin wheel 30 would be necessary. In machines `tor diggingbroad trenches at one cut, the leveling eiiect may be secured by using a pair of ,traction wheels abreast, in whichcase the side levelingwheel 30 may be omitted, and the diilerential mechanism shown in Fig. 3 With its vbrake bands will be used.

The operation is evident from the foregoing description. i

We claimzf i i i 1. In a ditching-machine, the combination of asupporting trame, a steering wheel, an open-center ditching wheel and traction wheels, said wheels `being arranged in `line on said trame in .the` order named, .substan` tially 1as described.

2. In a ditching machine, thelcombination of a supporting frame, an open-center ditching wheel carried thereby and traction `wheels mounted in said frame, `direct-ly `behind said `ditching wheel, said ditching wheel being wider than the space `occupied by said'traction wheels, `whereby the latter may travel in the out made by `the ditchwheel, substantially as described.

3. In a ditching machine, the con of a main frame, a steering tru mounted thereon, and meansl f said steering frame oniltlie ma stantially as described 4. In a ditching" e, i t ie `combin ation of a main frame,` `a

h `ing truck or frame carried thereby,` Van open-center ditching wheel on said m rame, and means for :trame relatively to vary the dept-h of the cut made thel ditching wheel or to raise 'dwheel clear of the ground, substantially as escribed.` i

n1 a ditching machine, the combinaltinn` p w main trame, a" ditching wheel carried` la()` to assist in the traction of the machine, substantially as described.

7. In a ditching machine, lthe combination of a main frame, traction Wheels, a supplemental frame, and an adjustable leveling Wheel on said supplemental frame, parallel to said traction Wheels and having its axis in approximately the same vertical plane With the axis of the traction wheels, substantially as described.

8. In a ditching machine, the combination of a main frame, a pair of traction Wheels mounted therein, driving means and a differential gear mechanism, whereby power may be applied to either or both of said traction Wheels, substantially as described.

9. In a ditchingmachine, the combination of a main ditching Wheel, rotaryV disks for cutting slopes, and operating means, substantially as described. f

10. In a ditching machine, the combination of a main ditching Wheel, supplemental rotary disk slope cutting devices, means for adjusting said devices, and operating means, substantially as described.

11. In a ditching machine,the combination of a main ditching Wheel, disks provided With detachable cutters for cutting slopes, and operating means, substantially as described. l

12. In a ditching machine, the combination of a main ditching Wheel, cutter disks for cutting slopes, means for adjusting disks vertically and longitudinally, and operating means, substantially as described.

13. In a ditching machine, the combina tion of a main ditching Wheel, disk cutters for cutting slopes arranged on each side of said main Wheel and rotating in the same direction, and operating means, substantially as described. j

14. In a ditching machine, the combination `of a main ditching Wheel, disk cutters, one on each side of said Wheel, means for adjusting said cutters up and down and in and out at any desired angle, and connections Whereby the rotation of the ditching Wheel causes the rotation of the disk cutters, substantially as described. Y

15. In a ditching machine, the combination of a supporting frame, an open-center ditching Wheel, an` adjustable conveyer Yon each side of said Wheel, and a conveyer running through said Wheel and adapted to de- .liver the excavated Vmaterial upon Veither of:

said first-named conveyers, as desired, substantially as described.

16. 'In' a ditching machine, the combination of a main frame, conveyers having chain and cross bars thereon, a ditching Wheel, and operating means rsubstantially as described.

17. In a ditching machine, the combination of an open-center ditching Wheel, and means terminating in a hopper for facilitating the dischargeof the excavated material, substantially as described.

18. In a ditching machine, the combination of an open-center ditching Wheel, a conveyer passing therethrough, and means terminating in a hopper extending just over the edge of the conveyer for facilitating the discharge of the excavated material, substan-v tially as described.

19. In a ditchingmachine, the combination of a main frame, a steering frame carried thereby, a ditching Wheel, and main tractionvvheels, said steering frame,.ditching wheel and traction kWheels being mounted in line on the mainframe and in the order named, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, We afiix oursignatures, in presence of Witnesses.

CHARLES J. VAN BUREN. LEO A. KRUPP. 

